Lexington police have arrested a man suspected of stealing $150,000 worth of copper from local businesses.
Kenneth Jordan, 56, was charged by Lexington detectives with 15 counts of 1st-degree criminal mischief on Sept. 15, according to the Fayette County jail log. He is also charged with fleeing from police and failure to appear in court. As of Sept. 27, further information has not been disclosed regarding the latter charges.
From late May to early September, Lexington police responded to a series of copper thefts from air conditioning units in the Chevy Chase neighborhood and along Nicholasville Road. According to court records obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader, Jordan stole copper piping from the AC units on four separate occasions.
Jordan is currently being held at Fayette County Detention Center, on an $11,000 bond.
Copper is a popular metal for thieves for its high resale value and the ease of stealing it when it is exposed.
“The theft of certain metals, specifically copper, has been the scourge of homeowners, municipalities, road departments and public safety agencies across the nation for several years,” the National Insurance Crime Bureau said in an article on copper theft statistics. The article demonstrates that copper theft has declined since its peak in the mid-2010’s – experiencing a 78% decrease in reports from 2014-2017 alone.
The decline is attributed to an increase in legislation combating copper resale. “Many of these laws require scrap yards and recyclers to document the transaction and obtain proof of identity to discourage thieves from trying to cash in on their crimes,” the article continues. “All of which has increased public awareness as well.”
In spite of the decline, Jordan’s case is not unusual. Lexington Police urge anyone with further information about Jordan’s case, or any other theft, to call (859) 258-3600. Information can be submitted anonymously to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020, online at www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 Tips app available at www.p3tips.com.